Career and Education Opportunities for Preschool Teachers in Elgin, Illinois

Preschool teachers can find both educational opportunities and jobs in the Elgin, Illinois area. There are currently 17,840 working preschool teachers in Illinois; this should grow by 29% to 22,940 working preschool teachers in the state by 2016. This is better than the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for preschool teachers are expected to grow by about 18.9%. Preschool teachers generally instruct children (normally up to 5 years of age) in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility.

The income of a preschool teacher is about $12 per hour or $26,000 yearly on average in Illinois. In the U.S. as a whole, their income is about $11 hourly or $23,870 per year on average. Preschool teachers earn less than people working in the category of Primary and Secondary School Education generally in Illinois and less than people in the Primary and Secondary School Education category nationally. Jobs in this field include: nursery school teacher, childhood development teacher, and teacher.

The Elgin area is home to sixty-one schools of higher education, including five within twenty-five miles of Elgin where you can get a degree as a preschool teacher. Preschool teachers usually hold a high school diploma or GED, so it will take only a short time to learn to be a preschool teacher if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Preschool Teacher

Preschool Teacher video from the State of New Jersey Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development

In general, preschool teachers instruct children (normally up to 5 years of age) in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth needed for primary school in preschool, day care center, or other child development facility. They also may be required to hold State certification.

Preschool teachers establish and enforce rules for behavior, and methods for maintaining order. They also furnish a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play. Equally important, preschool teachers have to organize and label materials, and display students' activities in a manner appropriate for their ages and perceptual skills. They are often called upon to demonstrate activities to children. They are expected to attend professional meetings and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. Finally, preschool teachers talk with other staff members to develop and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.

Every day, preschool teachers are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. It is also important that they speak clearly.

It is important for preschool teachers to collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development and revision of preschool programs. They are often called upon to maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws and administrative regulations. They also meet with other professionals to consider individual students' needs and progress. They are sometimes expected to decide on order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment and supplies. Somewhat less frequently, preschool teachers are also expected to furnish disabled students with assistive devices and assistance accessing facilities such as restrooms.

Preschool teachers sometimes are asked to perform administrative duties such as hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading. and administer tests to help decide on children's developmental levels and potential. And finally, they sometimes have to attend staff meetings, and serve on committees as required.

Like many other jobs, preschool teachers must have strong self control in the face of challenging situations and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in Elgin include:

Elementary School Teacher. Teach pupils in public or private schools at the elementary level basic academic, social, and other formative skills.

High School Teacher. Instruct students in secondary public or private schools in one or more subjects at the secondary level, such as English, mathematics, or social studies. May be designated according to subject matter specialty, such as typing instructors, commercial teachers, or English teachers.

Kindergarten Teacher. Teach elemental natural and social science, personal hygiene, and literature to children from 4 to 6 years old. Promote physical, mental, and social development. May be required to hold State certification.

Middle School Teacher. Teach students in public or private schools in one or more subjects at the middle, intermediate, or junior high level, which falls between elementary and senior high school as defined by applicable State laws and regulations.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Preschool Teacher Training

College of Lake County - Grayslake, IL

College of Lake County, 19351 W Washington St., Grayslake, IL 60030-1198. College of Lake County is a large college located in Grayslake, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 16,359 students. College of Lake County has a less than one year program in Early Childhood Education and Teaching which graduated three students in 2008.

College of DuPage - Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599. College of DuPage is a large college located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 25,668 students. College of DuPage has a one to two year program in Child Care and Support Services Management which graduated seven students in 2008.

Elmhurst College - Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave, Elmhurst, IL 60126-3096. Elmhurst College is a small college located in Elmhurst, Illinois. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 3,315 students and an admission rate of 69%. Elmhurst College has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree program in Early Childhood Education and Teaching.

Judson University - Elgin, IL

Judson University, 1151 N State St, Elgin, IL 60123-1498. Judson University is a small university located in Elgin, Illinois. It is a private not-for-profit school with primarily 4-year or above programs and has 1,226 students. Judson University has a bachelor's degree program in Early Childhood Education and Teaching.

Northern Illinois University - Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., Dekalb, IL 60115-2825. Northern Illinois University is a large university located in Dekalb, Illinois. It is a public school with primarily 4-year or above programs. It has 24,397 students and an admission rate of 58%. Northern Illinois University has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree program in Early Childhood Education and Teaching which graduated fifty-four and twenty-seven students respectively in 2008.

LOCATION INFORMATION: Elgin, Illinois

Elgin, Illinois photo by James Jordan

Elgin is located in Kane County, Illinois. It has a population of over 106,330, which has grown by 12.5% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in Elgin, 104, is above the national average. New single-family homes in Elgin cost $156,500 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, three hundred thirty-two new homes were constructed in Elgin, down from seven hundred fifty-six the previous year.

The top three industries for women in Elgin are health care, educational services, and finance and insurance. For men, it is construction, metal and metal products, and administrative and support and waste management services. The average travel time to work is about 26 minutes. More than 20.5% of Elgin residents have a bachelor's degree, which is lower than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 6.0%, is lower than the state average.

The unemployment rate in Elgin is 12.4%, which is greater than Illinois's average of 10.5%.

The percentage of Elgin residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 56.0%, is more than both the national and state average. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Saint Thomas More Roman Catholic Church are some of the churches located in Elgin. The largest religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Elgin is home to the Fox Bluff Corporate Center and the Elgin Fire Station Number 2 as well as Wing Park and College Park. Shopping malls in the area include Wing Park Manor Shopping Center, Tyler Creek Plaza Shopping Center and Town and Country Plaza Shopping Center. Visitors to Elgin can choose from Elgin-Days Inn, Colonial Lodge Motel and Crowne Plaza for temporary stays in the area.